Montgomery County will celebrate Dolly Parton’s music, philanthropy and local literacy impact with a day in her honor.
The four members of the Montgomery County Commissioners Court present on Sept. 17 approved a resolution declaring Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day. Commissioner Matt Gray was absent.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80, according to her website. The county selected Sept. 25—one month after her death—in part because the date can be written as “9/25,” a nod to her song “9 to 5.”
“It’s just amazing when you look at her life and all the things that she did and really how it has impacted us here in Montgomery County through the Books on Wheels program,” County Judge Mark Keough said.
Why it matters
The resolution highlights Parton’s work promoting childhood literacy through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Parton started the program in 1995 after being inspired by her father’s inability to read and write. The program provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth through age 5 and has distributed more than 300 million books worldwide, according to the organization.
In Montgomery County, the program is sponsored locally by Children’s Books on Wheels, according to the resolution.
Janna Hoglund, Montgomery County Memorial Library System director, said all library locations will offer programs commemorating Parton on Sept. 25. Additional information will be available through the library system’s website, events calendar and Facebook page.
Zooming in
The announcement also comes as the library system celebrates September as Library Card Sign-Up Month.
During the Sept. 17 meeting, library staff presented newly designed library cards to Keough and the county commissioners. Hoglund said a card gives residents access to printed and digital books, audiobooks, movies, databases, computers, makerspaces and educational programs.
“If you don’t have a library card, this is the perfect time to get one,” Hoglund said. “Please remember that a library card opens the door, and behind that door is a world of possibilities.”
Residents who sign up for a new card, renew an existing card or check out library materials during September will be automatically entered into a gift card drawing, according to the library system.
